Harriet Brown – Paradisiac

Harriet Brown – Paradisiac. Born in the air of paradise, Harriet Brown has descended from the heavens to join in on the wild rhythms of our Lady Earth. Come partake in his entry to this new world, and witness his paradisiacal sounds and sensual vibes. Synthesizers, drum machines, guitar, and brazen vocals are unified through the mind and body of one man, generating a sound in which the past becomes the future; Harriet Brown is creating a new kind of romantic funk. His journey has just begun, and he seeks to share himself with all who are willing to receive. So come and get freaky with your very own Harriet Brown. It’s a New Era.

Oakland singer/songwriter and producer Harriet Brown has flair, if the cover of his debut EP is any indication—the guy pulls off a bowl cut. Co-produced with Rare Times‘ Alex Talan, New Era promises a rich array of sounds that fall into Brown’s self-coined style of “romantic funk.” The EP’s opener, “Paradisiac”, is a slow burner that starts out as a steady percussive shuffle and picks up a real groove. Wavy synthesizers and bright guitars wash up around Brown’s voice, which is is laid-back and sensual—and the subtle harmonies behind it can’t elude comparison to Prince enough. The song intensifies into a guitar solo with Brown’s spoken voice echoing above, and then his sung vocals ring out clearer than ever. His lyrics are serious, mashing love and apocalypse together ably. Combined with the gravity of the instrumentation, the song feels momentous, like a harbinger of something great. It does somehow feel like Harriet Brown could usher in a new epoch, and we’re in the wake of it.